Car-coupling



(No Modem F. R. RAPP.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 603,204. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANK R. RAPP, OFiEASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 603,204, dated April 26, 1898.

y Application file (l November 16, 1897- Serial No. 658,732. (No model.)

-T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern,.-

new and useful Improvements in Car-Coup` lings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to car-couplers which are automatically coupled when the cars come together, thus obviating the necessity ofl a a brakeman or other person going between the cars to couple the same.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of such couplers which shall possess superior advantages with respect to eiiciency in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts herein- 'after fully described and claimed.

bar formed with a curved head 3 at the outerv end and formed with slots 4 on opposite sides. It is also formed with a head 5 at the inner end. This draw-bar is located between bearings 6, secured to the under side of the car, and is held in place between the same by a plate 7, secured to the bearings.

Secured to the under side of the car is a block 8, having a pointed end which fits in the end of the head 5.

.Iournaled on the draw-bar and held in place by a pin 9 is an -oscillating hook 10, comprising the Ybody 12, the outwardly-extending portion 13,and the beveled oppositelyextending lugs 14 at the ends thereof. Secured to the lower end of said hook is a weight 15 for holding the same in a perpendicular position. This weight is formed with an opening 16, through which passes the inner ends of connecting-bars 17, the outer ends of which are pivotally connected with levers l8,which in turn are pivotally connected with the carplatform. The numeral 19 designates buffers on the ends of the car-platforms.

It-will be understood that the hook and connections of one car are the eXact counterpart of those of the adjoining car, and the hooks are so arranged that they will lie in a vertical or perpendicular plane when disengaged from eachother.

The operation will be readily understood. As the cars come together the lugs of one hook will strikethose of the other, and as they pass each other the hooks will be turned on the draw-bar to allow the lugs to pass each other. After the lugs have passed vor cleared each other the weights will cause the hooks to turn back and the lugs of one hook to engage with those of the other, and thus couple the cars. To uncouple the cars, one or the other of the levers 18 is actuated to throw the hook connected therewithout of perpendicular,when it will be disengaged from the other hook.

YHaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- ,Y

In an automatic car-coupler, the combination with the hollow draw-bar, the heads at the inner and outer ends, the bearings and plate between which said draw-bar is located, and the pointed block engaging with the head at the inner end of the draw-bar, of the hook journaled on said draw -bar having oppositely-extendin g beveled lugs at the ends, the weight at the lower end of said hook, and means for :actuating said hook to uncouple the cars, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK R. RAPP.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM CoYLE, GEO. F. COEEIN. 

